diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/models/spiff_step_details.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/models/spiff_step_details.py
index 06e812ab2..56499e91d 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/models/spiff_step_details.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/models/spiff_step_details.py
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ class SpiffStepDetailsModel(SpiffworkflowBaseDBModel):
     id: int = db.Column(db.Integer, primary_key=True)
     process_instance_id: int = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
     spiff_step: int = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
-    task_json: str | None = deferred(db.Column(db.JSON, nullable=False))  # type: ignore
+    task_json: str = deferred(db.Column(db.JSON, nullable=False))  # type: ignore
     timestamp: float = db.Column(db.DECIMAL(17, 6), nullable=False)
     completed_by_user_id: int = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=True)
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/helpers/example_data.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/helpers/example_data.py
index ac1e8dc8b..251ba19c8 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/helpers/example_data.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/helpers/example_data.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class ExampleDataLoader:
         display_name: str = "",
         description: str = "",
         display_order: int = 0,
-        # from_tests: bool = False,
         bpmn_file_name: Optional[str] = None,
         process_model_source_directory: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> ProcessModelInfo:
@@ -58,9 +57,9 @@ class ExampleDataLoader:
         if bpmn_file_name:
             file_name_matcher = bpmn_file_name_with_extension
 
-        # file_glob = ""
+        # we need instance_path here for nox tests
         file_glob = os.path.join(
-            current_app.root_path,
+            current_app.instance_path,
             "..",
             "..",
             "tests",